Angel Jake at the RBC (Rainbow Broadcasting Corporation)

Angel Jake at the RBC (Rainbow Broadcasting Corporation)

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

What Do You Call a Group of Harrys?

Simba asked an intriguing question in response to my post about the three -- count 'em three -- Harrys on DWB: "Is there a word for a group of Harrys?" You know, kind of like a pride of lions, or a gaggle of geese, or a herd of cattle.

So what about a _______ of Harrys???

Anyone up for the Name Game?

For inspiration, see the article below. (But what was the person who identified a "mute of hounds" possibly thinking?)

(And while you're at it, what is the plural of Harry? Harrys? Or Harries? Mom says she is pretty harried just thinking about it!!

Hmmm. Could she be thinking about a harry of Harrys???

Just Harry

The Name Game — January - February 1997
by Janice Welsh
Most people know that fish hang out in schools and sheep gather in flocks. But have you ever heard of a pride of lions? How about a kettle of hawks or a charm of finches? The English language has more than 1,000 names for groups of things.
The names for groups of fish and wildlife date back to the Middle Ages,when knights and lords on horseback chased all kinds of animals. Many of the words used to describe groups of animals were hunting terms. Hunters might pursue a dray of squirrels, a fall of woodcock, or a spring of teal. Herd is one term people still use to describe a group deer, cattle, or elephants.

Where Do Names Come From?
Many names for clusters of critters are listed below. As you look at the names, think about what might have led someone to choose a particular one. The choice might have been inspired by:
An animal's action - a leap of leopards
A sound the animal makes - a murmuration of starlings
A repetition of word sounds - a gaggle of geese
What people think about the animals - a richness of martens
The animal's home - a nest of rabbits
What the gathering looks like - a knot of toads
Some names are mistakes. A school of fish, for example, was first called a shoal of fish. Fish gather in a shoal, a shallow place in a river or lake. A long time ago someone translated shoal of fish as school of fish and passed it along.

Of Prides, Gaggles, and Exaltations...
Army of frogs, bale of turtles, band of gorillas, bed of clams, oysters* bevy of quail, swans, brace of ducks, brood of chicks,* cast of hawks, cete of badgers, charm of goldfinches, cloud of gnats,* clowder of cats, clutch of chicks,* colony of rabbits, ants, gulls, bats* company of wigeons* congregation of plovers, convocation of eagles, covert of coots ,covey of quail, partridge,* cry of hounds, down of hares, draft of fish, drift of swine, drove of cattle, sheep, pigs, exaltation of larks ,flight of birds, flock of sheep, geese, ducks* gaggle of geese, gam of whales, gang of elk, grist of bees, herd of cattle, deer, elephants, horses, sheep* hive of bees* horde of gnats, hover of trout, husk of hares, kettle of hawks,* kindle of kittens, labor of moles, leap of leopards leash of fox, litter of pigs, cats, dogs* murder of crows, murmuration of starlings, muster of peacocks, mute of hounds, nest of vipers, turtles, hornets, fish nest, nide or nye of pheasants, pack of hounds, wolves, mules* parliament of owls, pod of whales, seals* pride of lions* raft of ducks (on water),* rafter of turkeys, school of fish,* sedge of cranes, bitterns, herons, shoal of bass, shrewdness of apes, skein of geese, skulk of foxes, sloth or sleuth of bears, sounder of boars, swine, span on mules ,spring of teal ,stud of mares ,swarm of bees,* team of ducks, horses, pigs, oxen, tribe of goats, troop of kangaroos, monkeys, volary of birds, walk of snipe ,watch of nightingales, wedge of swans, wing of plovers, yoke of oxen.
* group names commonly used by wildlife biologists

A complete copy of the article can be found in the January-February 1997 issue of Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, available at Minnesota public libraries.

22 comments:

Simba and Jazzi said...

I think it would have to be a herd of Harry's.

Simba xx

Lenny said...

That's exactly what I was thinking! I totally agree with Simba, a HERD of Harry's!

Your friend, Lenny

Molly the Airedale said...

Hoards of Harries!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Asta said...

how about a heap of Hawwies,heheheh
I missed you guys! I can't post till Fwiday, my pootew is dead..but i wanted to send you a swoon of smoochies
Asta

Harry said...

Hmm, I reckon a hooray of Harry's!

Toodle pip,

Harry x

Jackson's J1 and J2 said...

What about a "handsomeness of Harrys"? J x

Sophie Brador said...

How about a hoopla of Harry's?

xo
SB

Stanley said...

Hey Buds!

Here are some of my choices:
A huddle of Harries
A heap of Harries
A powwow of Harries
A pink tea of Harries (yes, I said pink tea).

Let me know what you come up with!

Goob love,
Stanley

Jake of Florida said...

Mom couldn't sleep and at 2.36 am DST thought of a hullabaloo of Harries.

JH

Faya said...

Un tas de Harry ..... une brouette de Harry....une remorque de Harry.... sorry...
Kisses, Faya

Headgirl said...

Hi there,

Glad to see you're back.

I think a HIP of Harry's, as in hip, hip hooray!

Pats & pats
Blue

Buster the Wired Fox Terror said...

A whole heap a harrys!

A first, second and third helping of harrys!

A hunka hunka harrys!

Hairy harrys hangin'!

Harry's homies!

I better stop now while I think I am ahead - hahahahaha harrys!

Bussie Kissies
Buster

Agatha and Archie said...

How could we possibly add to this!!! A bunch of hunky Harrys?
Heaps of Harrys? ( nope Asta already used that one!!!!!!) Love A+A

Gus said...

OK, so we have a humungous hoard of hunky hairy Harry's, right?

Koobuss said...

A Haven of Harrys?

Koobuss Kisses,
Koobie

Balboa said...

I think I'm gonna change my name to harry!!!!! hee hee

Frenchie Snorts
Balboa

Vicky said...

I love some of those names, and my mum is still laughing, she say's 'A Happiness of Harry's' cos Harry's make you happy.
HHHHarry

Poppy said...

What about a wag? A wag of Harrys.

Poppy

Asta said...

Oooh I love a Happiness of Harrys!
hi I missed you vewy much...I'm so glad you'we back..
what do you mean??don't I have a pokew face?? I was twying vewy hawd.
smoochie kisses
Asta

The Black and Tans. said...

A HUG of Harry's

Molly and Taffy

Buster the Wired Fox Terror said...

Ooooh oooh oooh I got's another one! A Hodge Podge of Harrys!

Bussie Kissies
Buster

Hillary 2008

Lacy said...

woofies jake and JH!!! me not thinkies me haz meeteded u yets...heehee all me can thinks of is a groupie of harrys....

b safe,
;)lacylulu